Method and apparatus for MPEG-2 program ID re-mapping for multiplexing several programs into a single transport stream

A system for re-mapping packet identifier (PID) values provided in transport packets associated with different program streams to be multiplexed onto a single shared transport channel, each program stream having an associated identifier value, said system including:

• means for indexing a first look-up table for generating an offset value relating to an original PID value provided in a transport packet header associated with the packet to be multiplexed;
• means implementing said offset value for identifying a start address in a second look-up table including a region having a plurality of new PID values capable of being mapped to said original PID value;
• means utilizing said identifier value associated with the transport stream of said packet as an index into said region to generate a new PID value;
• and,
• means for exchanging said new PID value with said original PID value included in said transport packet.

In a system for multiplexing transport packets associated with one or more data sources for transmission over a shared fixed bit rate medium wherein the multiplexing system includes:

• a data queue memory storage device associated with a respective data source for storing transport packets associated with said data source, each data queue memory device having an associated queue identifier (QID) and each transport packet having a header including an associated original packet identifier (PID);
• an output buffer for multiplexing said packet onto said shared fixed bit rate medium;
• and, a data bus connecting said data queue memory storage device with said output buffer;
• a real-time PID re-mapping system comprising:
• buffer means for receiving said transport packet from a data queue memory device from said data bus;
• a first look-up table for generating an offset value relating to the original PID value associated with the packet to be multiplexed;
• a second look-up table including a region having a plurality of new PID values capable of being mapped to said original PID value;
• means utilizing said QID as an index into said region to generate a new PID value at an output of said second table;
• and,
• means for exchanging said new PID value with said original PID value included in said transport packet header.